Sunday, October 26, 2014

How did the Savior compare gospel truths to familiar objects and experiences? - Youth Sunday School Lesson

How was your week this week?

Any questions from your other class?

Who is not here that should be in our class?

How did the Savior compare gospel truths to familiar objects and experiences?

" We can use stories to teach like the Savior as we relate our personal experiences and relate gospel principles to the world around us." - from the lesson outline

" Which of the parables of Jesus are most memorable to you, and why?" - from the lesson outline

Matthew 18:1-6
1 At the same time came the disciples unto Jesus, saying, Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?
2 And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them,
3 And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.
4 Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
5 And whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receiveth me.
6 But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea.

Jesus took a child from the group. Maybe it was a child he knew, we don't know.

He placed the child in the midst of them.   What does in the midst of them mean?  Maybe it means he placed the child where they could all see it?

Are there things in the modern church where children are placed in the midst of us to show us an example to teach us something?

What about when the bishop calls a child to the pulpit and the child for graduating primary?  It is to show the child that they have done something important and let the child perhaps share with us an article of faith

Is this just about the child? Or is it also about us being reminded that something important happened? And reminding us of our articles of faith and of when we were little children, before we became caught up in our friends,  our technology,  our school, our jobs.

What about when a child stands and is recognized for being baptized?  Is that placing a child in our midst and Heavenly Father giving us the opportunity to remember and be taught by that child?

What about the part in Matthew 18 where he talks about offending a little child? Is this just about being mean to kids or acting in a way you should act in front of a child? Or is it a symbol of offending that which is innocent, like the spirit.  Or is it about being a grown up, but not forgetting that we need to come to Father as a little child and if our behavior prevents that then we will not have lasting happiness and joy.

If a person does not have boundaries on their behavior they will not have not joy.

Sunday, October 19, 2014

How can I show love for those I teach? - Youth Sunday School Lesson

What did you learn in your other class today?  Do you have any questions about what you talked about in there?  Any questions about things you have been studying on your own?  Do you have a scripture that you would like to share that you came across in your personal scripture study?

How can I show love for those I teach?

We will all have to teach at some point whether it is a lesson in Sunday school, in a talk, or with someone we know who doesn't understand a something about the gospel that we can help with.

How did Jesus teach?

"Jesus Christ loved those He taught. He prayed for them and found opportunities to express His love. We can develop love for those we teach by praying for them and selflessly serving them." - From the lesson outline.

"How have you been influenced by a teacher who showed love to you?" - From the lesson outline.

"How can learning to love those we teach help us become better teachers?" - From the lesson outline.

Mosiah 28:1–3
1 Now it came to pass that after the sons of Mosiah had done all these things, they took a small number with them and returned to their father, the king, and desired of him that he would grant unto them that they might, with these whom they had selected, go up to the land of Nephi that they might preach the things which they had heard, and that they might impart the word of God to their brethren, the Lamanites
2 That perhaps they might bring them to the knowledge of the Lord their God, and convince them of the iniquity of their fathers; and that perhaps they might cure them of their hatred towards the Nephites, that they might also be brought to rejoice in the Lord their God, that they might become friendly to one another, and that there should be no more contentions in all the land which the Lord their God had given them.
3 Now they were desirous that salvation should be declared to every creature, for they could not bear that any human soul should perish; yea, even the very thoughts that any soul should endure endless torment did cause them to quake and tremble.

Why would they want to go serve among people that hated them? Do missionaries today ever have to serve among people that hate them?

Do we ever live or serve around people that are hostile to what we believe our what they think we believe?

"We should measure our success by the progress of those we teach, not by the excellence of our performance." (Teaching No Greater Call, Lesson 1)

"Love prompts us to prepare and teach differently. When we love those we teach, we pray for each of them. We do all we can to know their interests, achievements, needs, and concerns. " - From the lesson outline.

Being Prepared to Teach at All Times
As I was preparing this lesson I came across this story by President Monson that I thought was cool.

" I share another example of the value of learning the Articles of Faith. Forty-five years ago I worked with a man named Sharman Hummel in the printing business in Salt Lake City. I once gave him a ride home from work and asked him how he came to receive his testimony of the gospel.
"He responded, “It’s interesting, Tom, that you asked me that question, for this very week my wife, my children, and I are going to the Manti Temple, there to be sealed for all eternity.”
He continued his account: “We lived in the East. I was journeying by bus to San Francisco to establish myself in a new printing company, and then I was going to send for my wife and children. All the way from New York City to Salt Lake City the bus trip was uneventful. But in Salt Lake City a young girl entered the bus—a Primary girl—who sat next to me. She was going to Reno, Nevada, there to have a visit with her aunt. As we journeyed westward, "I noticed a billboard: ‘Visit the Mormon Sunday School this week.’
" “I said to the little girl, ‘I guess there are a lot of Mormons in Utah, aren’t there?’
"“She replied, ‘Yes, sir.’
"“Then I said to her, ‘Are you a Mormon?’
"“Again her reply: ‘Yes, sir.’”
"Sharman Hummell then asked, “What do Mormons believe?” And that little girl recited the first article of faith; then she talked about it. Continuing, she gave him the second article of faith and talked about it. Then she gave him the third and the fourth and the fifth and the sixth and all of the Articles of Faith and talked about all of them. She knew them consecutively.
"Sharman Hummel said, “When we got to Reno, and we let that little girl off into the arms of her aunt, I was profoundly impressed.”
He said, “All the way to San Francisco I thought, ‘What is it that prompts that little girl to know her doctrine so well?’ When I arrived in San Francisco, the very first thing I did,” said Sharman, “was to look through the yellow pages for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I called the mission president, and he sent two missionaries to where I was staying. I became a member of the Church, my wife became a member, all of our children became members, in part because a Primary girl knew her Articles of Faith.”"(President Thomas S Monson, Examines of Great Teachers, June 2007 Liahona)

Memorizing Scriptures
"Learning, pondering, searching, and memorizing scriptures is like filling a filing cabinet with friends, values, and truths that can be called upon anytime, anywhere in the world.

"Great power can come from memorizing scriptures. To memorize a scripture is to forge a new friendship. It is like discovering a new individual who can help in time of need, give inspiration and comfort, and be a source of motivation for needed change. " (Elder Richard G Scott, The Power of Scripture, October 2011 General Conference)

Moroni 7:45
45 And charity suffereth long, and is kind, and envieth not, and is not puffed up, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil, and rejoiceth not in iniquity but rejoiceth in the truth, beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.

What does Moroni 7:45 have to do with teaching others?

Monday, October 6, 2014

Being a Father - Lesson to the Laurels

When I Became A Man I Put Away Childish Things
 11 When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.

We all probably have a different expectation of how a baby boy behaves when compared to how a elementary school boy behaves.  We likely also have different expectations for a teenage boy, a father, or a grandfather.

We can expect that a baby boy will likely need us to do almost everything for it, including change its diaper.  An elementary student we would expect is potty trained, but likely will need a lot of observation to keep him safe and correct immature behavior.

We would expect a teenaged boy to be trusted to not touch a hot stove, not pull dishes from the counter onto his head, and perhaps even be trusted to drive a car alone.  You would expect a certain level of immaturity and even perhaps self centeredness, but you would assume they are improving and somewhat self sufficient.

Do we expect a father to behave like a teenaged boy?  We would expect him to not be as impulsive and to be more in control of his behavior.

Even though father’s are grown ups, don’t we have an even greater expectation of maturity and wisdom in word and behavior from a grandfather?

Being a man is about continually learning to put off childish things and things that don’t matter.

Women Help Shape Boys Into Men
As a young woman you have great power over young men.  In spite of this I see all too often young women lower themselves to foolish behaviors of immature young men.

Just because a young man speaks or behaves coarsely and you want to be close to him does not mean that you should speak coarsely.  You should expect better behavior of him.  He should not expect worse behavior of you.  If you stand your ground and are kind about it, the young men will figure it out and become stronger.  If you cave and behave as they do they will continue to become increasingly more irresponsible.

Do many young men often chase after coarse and immodest girls?  Yes, but that doesn’t last and they both end up miserable.

Young men do not respond positively to nagging or to young women who are judgemental, but they do respond quite well to young women who are beautiful, kind, and virtuous who they see giving attention to boys who are respectful and kind.  If a guy’s friends behave poorly and make him look like a fool in front of a beautiful, kind, and virtuous girl, then he will cause his friends behavior to change or he will find new friends.

Sunday, October 5, 2014

How does keeping the commandments affect my ability to learn the gospel? - Youth Lesson

Ask the youth if they have any questions or comments about what they are learning in their other classes. Invite them to share personal experiences or impressions they have received as a result of their learning.


How does keeping the commandments affect my ability to learn the gospel?  Or How does obedience affect my ability to learn the gospel?


What are the commandments?  They are instructions for how to be happy.  God’s purpose is that we can have joy, right?  God knows there are things that will make life harder and make us unhappy and the commandments are to steer us away from those things.


When I follow what I want to do rather than what God wants or when I am not keeping the commandments I find that often I get in a fog. It gets hard to make decisions. It sometimes gets hard to concentrate or remember things. Sometimes it is harder to be patient with others.


If that fog isn't there and the spirit is speaking to me more clearly, because I have kept the commandments, I find that I learn and understand things better. I listen more and hear more.


Read scriptures from lesson about how keeping the commandments leads to increased knowledge.


D&C 42:61


Are there any mysteries of God you would like to know?  How would you go about finding out that mystery?


The more we keep the commandments the more we understand the commandments and life in general.


People try to figure out the problems of life while removing God from the solution. Their solution to the problems are constantly changing as they don't take into account God's plan and how he designed us and this earth. They don't know his purpose for us being here or the purpose of the earth.


Doctrine and Covenants 93:26-28
26 The Spirit of truth is of God. I am the Spirit of truth, and John bore record of me, saying: He received a fulness of truth, yea, even of all truth;
27 And no man receiveth a fulness unless he keepeth his commandments.
28 He that keepeth his commandments receiveth truth and light, until he is glorified in truth and knoweth all things.


"A knowledge of truth and the answers to our greatest questions come to us as we are obedient to the commandments of God." - President Monson


“Keep the commandments; keep the commandments! In this there is safety; in this there is peace.
He will send blessings; He will send blessings.  Words of a prophet: Keep the commandments.
In this there is safety and peace.


Read Daniel 1


“What is the Lord trying to emphasize and why? Is there anything in these verses that applies to me personally?”


Tell the boys that when we read stories we can write notes in our scripture margins of things we want to remember the next time we read that part of the scriptures.


We can also pause while we are reading to write things we think of in our journal. They wet can read our journal in the future and remember things that were important to us and things we have learned. We can look back and see places where God's hand was in our life.


Our kids or grand kids will also be able to look through our journal and see the spiritual experiences we have with the scriptures.

What are some ways you have thought of as we have talked that you can do to help you understand the gospel better?